Submarine-trap



E. V. HARTFORD. strsmnme TRAP. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13. 1919.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

I ATTORNEYS lil UNETEE STAE'E PFA'E'ENT @FEICE.

EDWARD V. HARTFORD, 0F DEAL, NEW JERSEY.

SUBMARINE-TRAP.

Application filed March 13, 1919.

T 0 all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, EDWARD V. HART- ro'nn, acitizen of the United States, residing at Deal, Monmouth county, andState of New Jersey, have invented-certain new and useful Improvementsin Submarine-Traps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates in general to a device for use in connectionwith'marine defense work and'specifically relates to a submarine boattrap or submarine boat destroying torpedo. f

It has been known heretofore to inine an area which is to be protectedagainstenemy submarines by scattering contactmines throughout the areaor by spreading nets to which torpedoes, mines or other forms ofexplosive devices are attached. Such systems of device, however, areobjectionable in that they have no selective capacity to pick outsubmarine boats in distinction from boats moving on the surface ofthewater and in this way the destructive agency is apt to be set inoperation by a friendly boat.

Defense systems such as contact lines positioned a distance below thesurface of the water sufficient to permit the surface boats to pass overthe mines are ineffective against submarines in that these boats travelmost of the time just below the surface or awash thus clear the deeplylaid mines. vsiccordingl y, one of the objects of the invention is toprovide a simple form of coin bined submarine boat trap and destructiveagent capable of selectively permitting surface traveling boats to passunmolested but attaching itself to a submarine or similar moving bodywithin range even though the moving body be submerged within the depthof water usually occupied by the hull of the surface moving boat.

Broadly this object is attained by disposing an open noose, or ratherring, in vertical positionwith its upper part ator just below thesurface of the water so that the submarine boat engaging the same at'anyangle wili pick up the ring and cause a torpedo or similar destructiveagent (or other instrument) attached to the ring to swing or float upinto engagement with the submarine boat. 7

The torpedo thus moved into contact with the submarine to be destroyedcan befired as is usual with such destructive agencies.

Another objectionv inherentin contact Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 282,284.

mines and the like, is that they frequently become separated from theiranchors and float about constituting a serious 'menace to shlpping whichmight accidentally contact with such floating mines.

j The invention therefore features a novel form of destructive agent,such as a torpedo which is normally incapable of destructive action evenwhen freely floating in contact with other objects and which becomesoperativeonly when positively drawnthrough the water for a predetermineddistance. 7

Incidental to this phase of theinvention a further object is to providea destructive agency, such as a torpedo, or in fact anbody designed tobe drawn through the water, which includes actuati-n mechanism driven bya water actuated device, such as a propeller, which is mechanicallydisconnected from the mechanism when .the body is vertically disposedand which becomes operatively connected to drive the mechanism only whenthe body is moved toward a horizontal position.

Among the other desiderata of the invention is to provide a device ofthe class outlined in which expensive parts and carefully machined partsare reduced to a minimum thereby permitting the use of a large number ofsuch devices; which can be quickly and economically set in place, andscattered over the area to be protected without in V curring an expenseeither in their .rnanufao ture or installation in excess of protectivemethods now in use.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be inpartobvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and in part willbe'inore fully-set forth in the following particular description of oneform of mechanism embodying my invention, and the invention alsoconsists in certain new and novel features of-construction andcombination ofparts hereinafter set forth and-claimed.

Referring to the ings:

Figure 1 is a" diagrammatic view of two embodimentsof my inventioninoperative accompanying drawfioating position and with a ring of one ofthe devices engaged by a' submarine boat and showing in full and brokenlines the several successive positions of the submarine boat and thedevice constituting the subject-mat ter of this disclosure; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the torpedo element of thedevice shown in Fig. 1, taken axially through the element and with partsbroken away to save space.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 there is shown a body of water 10 witha surface 11 defining the upper level of a zone 12 through whichsubmarine boats 13 travel when running awash.

The submarine boat traps constituting the subject-matter of thisdisclosure each consist of a releasing anchor 14.- of any suitable formadapted to be fastened in fixed position adjacent the bottom of the bodyof water, a marine torpedo 15 and a floating catch ring or noose l6suitably connected in order by two lengths of cable 17 and 18.

The ring 16 may be of any form best suited for the particular objectwhich it is designed to engage and may be placed at different distancesbelow the surface as indicated by the rings 19 and 20, to the left ofFig. l. Preferably the rings are circular or at least continuous andhave their lower edges weighted so that they tend to maintain an uprightposition disposed in a vertical plane but are free to revolve abouttheir vertical diameters. As the rings are each capable of swingingabout an internal diameter should a submarine boat, or like submergedobject, approach the ring at an angle to its plane, the prow 21 of theboat would engage a side of the ring, swing the ring about its verticalaxis until it is disposed in a plane at right angles to the direction ofmovement of the submarine boat. There is usually but one ring employedwith each trap. The upper portion extends horizontally and is positionedjust below the surface of the water so that the ring or a series of suchrings extend across, or at least partially across, the zone 12. The ringis designed So as to inclose the largest possible space but is not madeso large that the submarine boat could slip therethrough. The opening inthe ring therefore has a dimension in one direction less than thesimilar dimension of a cross-section taken transversely of thesubmarine. In other words, the ring is of a size large enough to slipover the prow of the submarine but not enough to permit theconning-tower or other projections to slip through the ring.

Referring particularly to Fig. 2 for a detailed description of onepreferred form of the torpedo 15 there is shown a shell 22 ofconventional form having a nose 23 at one end provided with an eye 24.by means of which the torpedo is fastened to the cable 18 and thusnormally suspended in vertica] position. Four longitudinally extendingfins 25 are equally spaced circumferentially of the shell. extendradially from the rear end of the shell and have their rear endsconnected by a propeller-protecting band 26.-

A transverse partition 27 divides the interior of the shell into anexplosive containing chamber 28 and a firing-mechanism containingchamber 29 and also constitutes a support for a centrally disposedpercussion cap or firing cartridge 30.

The rear end of the shell proper is closed by a conical head 31 threadedthereto and which head carries the mechanism for firing the cap orcartridge and thus exploding the charge in the chamber 28.

The head is provided with a second artition 32 constituting a firing pingui ing plate, in which is slidably mounted a firing pin 33 operativelydisposed relative to the percussion cap to explode the same by contacttherewith as is usual in torpedo firing construction. The pin is lockedin an inoperative position spaced from the percussion cap by a latch 34:having a bolt engaging in a peripheral notch 35 in the side of the pin.The latch is provided with a cam throw 36 adapted to be engaged by ahollow plunger 37 to release the bolt from the notch and thus permit thefiring pin to function. The firing pin is hollow and in all of itspositions provides a bearing for the forward end of a propeller shaft 38which extends through bearings 39 at the apex of the head and projectsinto the propeller space outlined by the band 26. A propeller hub 10,(in the form of a long bearing sleeve) provided with a plurality ofpropeller blades 41, is loosely mounted upon the exterior portion of theshaft. i

The rear end of the hub sleeve is enlarged to provide a flange 42inclosed by hollow end cap 43. The flange thus fixed to the hubconstitutes one element of a gravity controlled friction slipclutchbetween the propeller and the shaft. The slip clutch also includesa disk 44 paralleling the flange 42, housed within the cap and heldsecured to a conical part 45' of the shaft by an end jam nut 46. Theside of the disk facing the flange is recessed to provide a face groove47 which is V-shaped in cross-sections. Roller balls 48 are positionedin the groove and are designed, when the torpedo is moved intohorizontal position shown in Fig. 2, to roll down the incline providedby the groove and clutch the disk 44 to the flange 42.

The portion ofthe shaft within the shell is screw threaded and passesthrough an advancing nut 49 forming the base of the plunger 37 The nutand plunger are held against rotary movement and are free to movelongitudinally on a guide pin 50 threaded intothe cap and passed througha lateral extension 51 from the advancing nut.

The plunger telescopes the rear end of the firing pin and co-actstherewith to form a housing for a firing-pin spring 52. The spring iscoiled about the shaft, bears at one end against the firing pin and atthe other end against .a washer .53 engaging the advancing nut.

Hanging chains 54 are-attached to thering and-constitute a. means forconnecting the cable .17 to the normally lower end otthe torpedo. v

As shown in Fig.2 the connection 55 be tween the cable-l7 and thetorpedo may be destructible so that a pull on the torpedo breaks theconnection with the anchorat the base of thetorpedoas shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1.

Under some conditions it may be. desirable to dispose the-ringso that itwill assume a preset position with reference to the current. In thiscasethering is provided with a fin 5 6 fixed to the ring and disposed in aposition relative to the plane of the ring so as to cause the ring-toassume the desired angle to the current. This construction is ofadvantage in. those situations-where heavy currents. or seas wouldtendto carry away the usual net.

In operation it will he understood that the trap as hereinbeforedescribed .will be made up in large quantities usually in the form shownto the right of Fig. 1, with a single ring, and the devices plantedacross a channel or other area to be protected. As the submarinesusually travel awash or adjacent the surface, care will be exercised indisposing the rings so that they will be near the surface of the waterand yet hid below the surface. Should a surface traveling boat approachthese rings it will simply push the. ring aside and pass by-unmolested.

The only possible chance of the ring attaching itselfto a surtace movingboat is in the case otboats having triple propellers, but

.even in thiscase-it is believed thatthe-tendency of-thepropellerswould-be to throwthe ring away from the boat. .However, 7 should -theringattach-itselt to thepropeller and drag the torpedo; as hereinafterdescribed the length-0t cable ls-will be such as'to position theexplodi-ngtorpedosome.,clistance to the rear-of theboat and at a pointtoo remote to .do any damage tothe -boat.

Should .a submarine boat, another torpedo orin fact any submerged ob ectapproach the ring, as-shown in -connection with the boatshown in fulllines in Fig. 1, the prow 210i the bOfttfWlll engage in, the ring andthering will constitute. a' yoke collaring the boat and be drawn alongwith the moving ,boat. The resulting strain on the. cable will cause thetrap to leave the anchorage either by the rupture of the anchor -14 .orof the connection 55. The forward movement of the submarine boat willcause thetorpedo to swing rearwardly across the inclined po sition andfinally into the position engaging the underside of the submarine asshown in the two succeeding dotted line positions vpedo into shown inFig. l. The tropedo is thus finally positioned directly beneathand incontact with the submarine boat and in a position to do the maximumamount of damage when the torpedo is finally exploded From thedescription or" the gravity controlled clutch mechanism it will be notedthat when the torpedo is in the vertical position shown in full line inFig. l, the propeller is disconnected from the firing mechanismactuating shaft and is free to revolve idly about the shaft. Inassembling the torpedo the firing pin is positioned as shown. in Fig. 2with the latch 34 engaging the groove so as to hold the firing pin inspaced relation to the percussion cap.

As the torpedo swings into the horizontal position shown in dotted'linesin Fig. l the balls in the gravity controlled clutch slide down theincline and connect the propeller with the actuating shaft. This willcause theshafft to rotate and advance the plunger from the positionshown in Fig. 2 into a position engaging the cam throw of the latch. Thecontinued movement of the plunger will act through the cam to slide thebolt of the latch into unlocked position, thus permitting the forwardmovement of the firing pin. During the advance of the plunger toward thelatch the advancing nut will bear on the spring to place the same undertension so that when the firing pin is released of the re straint ofthe'latch the spring will re-act to force the pin into engagement withthe percussion cap to fire the same. It will be obvious that the pinwill be held out of engage .ment with the firing cap for a period of .mentwith the body ofthe submarine before the-firing pin is moved intoengagement with the percussion cap.

By means of a device of this. character it :is possible for surfacemoving boats to pass overa mine field without danger; on the other handany 7 submarine or submerged body coming in contact with one of therings either squarely head-on or at an angle to the plane or? the ringis almost sure to pick up one of tho-rings and trail its attached torposition beneath the submerged body.

The torpedo does not contain the propelling mechanism or power plant andtherefore can be constructed at relatively small expense. Should any ofthese torpedoes become loosened from its mooring it will sim ply floatabout in vertical position and does not become dangerous until trailedin a horizontal position. he torpedo disclosed is free of any liabilityto an accidental discharge characterizing contact torpedoesand is freeof the uncertainty in operation characterizing time-fired-mechanisms ofthis character,

Not only is the device capable of selecting between surface moving boatsand submarines, but it is obviously possible, by varying theconfiguration of the rings with reference to friendly submarines toinsure a selective action between enemy and friendly submarines bypermitting such friendly submarines to pass by the ring without engagingthe same. For instance, the ring may be made of such a size as will notpass over the prow of afriendly submarine or the friendly submarines maybe equipped with fenders to ward off the particular kind of ringutilized.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A torpedo having a propeller to be r0- tated when the torpedo ismoved through the water, a firing pin and means operated by thepropeller for operating the firing pin, the operation of said means bythe propeller being controlled by the angular position of the torpedorelatively to its predetermined normal position.

2. A torpedo, a firing pin therefor, means for causing said torpedo tooccupy a predetermined angular position in the water, and means toautomatically operate said firing pin to cause the torpedo to explodewhen the torpedo is moved through the water at an angle to its normalposition, said means being in operative as long as the torpedo occupiesits normal angular position.

3. A marine torpedo adapted to be drawn through the water by a powerexterior to the torpedo, mechanism for firing the torpedo and mechanismactuating means controlled by the angular position of the tor pedo andoperated by the movement of the torpedo through the water for explodingthe same.

4. A'marine torpedo including mechanism for exploding the same, meansactuated by the movement of the torpedo through the water, a drivingclutch connection between the exploding mechanism and said wateractuated means and means controlled by the position of the torpedo formoving said clutch from an inoperative into an operative positionwhereby the movement of the torpedo through the water while in oneposition will cause the explosive mechanism to function.

5. A marine torpedo including mechanism for exploding the same, saidmechanism including an actuating shaft, a propeller constituting a wateractuated device, a gravity controlled clutch connection between saidpropeller and actuating shaft, whereby the movement of the torpedo intoa horizontal position will cause the clutch to move into an operativeposition connecting the water actuated propeller with the explodingmechanism to cause the same to function.

6. In a device of the class described, a mechanism containing memberdesigned normally to float upright in the water, normally inoperativemechanism within said member, a water actuated device designed tofunction when the member is drawn through the water, a gravitycontrolled clutch between the mechanism within the member and said wateractuated device, said clutch being inoperative when the member is in itsupright position and automatically moving into clutching position as themember is moved toward a horizontal position.

7. A torpedo provided with a firing mechanism including a firing pin, alatch for holding the same in an inoperative position, a plunger formoving the latch into an unlocking position and a propeller operativelyconnected to the plunger for actuating the same, a spring for actuatingthe firing pin, said spring connected to the plunger to be placed undertension thereby before the latch is released whereby the movement of thepropeller first places the spring under tension and then releases thelatch to permit the spring to operate the firing pin.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mechanismcontaining member, means for causing said member normally to float in anupright position,

mechanism mounted in said member, water i actuated means, a gravitycontrolled clutch for connecting said means with said mechanism wherebythe movement of the member through the water will cause the mechanism tofunction, said clutch being inoperative when the member is in itsupright position and being operative when the member is movedhorizontally through the water.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a mechanismcontaining member, means for causing said member normally to float in anupright position,

'mechanism mounted in said member, water actuated means, a gravitycontrolled clutch for connecting said means with said mechanism wherebythe movement of the member through the water will cause the mechanism tofunction, said clutch being inoperative when the member is in itsupright position and being operative when the member is movedhorizontally through the water, said mechanism including a normallyinactive element, and means actuated by the clutched water actuatedmeans for causing said element to become active.

Signed at Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey,this 11th day of March, A. D. 1919.

EDWARD V. HARTFORD.

